NHS England’s Specialised Commissioning team is recruiting four patient and public voice partners to join the Patient and Public Voice Assurance Group (PPVAG). The role of the PPVAG is to provide assurance around communication and engagement with patients and the public on key areas of work carried out by the Specialised Commissioning Directorate. It is looking for applicants who can bring expertise in communications and engagement good practice, including techniques and / or assurance processes.

They are also recruiting for their Rare Diseases Advisory Group.

Successful applicants will be reimbursed for their meeting/preparation time and expenses. For more information and to request an application pack please email england.voice-crg@nhs.net The closing date for applications is 5 March 2017.

Also if you could like to volunteer to review their new policy about NHS England works with its patient and public voice (PPV) partners. The draft policy outlines different types of involvement roles and the support on offer to PPV partners. Volunteers will need to be available to join a webinar (online meeting) from 2-3pm on Friday 3 March 2017. If you would like to become a reviewer please email england.nhs.participation@nhs.net for more details.

The INQUIRE project: Interviewing patients and the public who have used the internet to express their views about healthcare , or have read other people’s comments.

Have you ever read other people’sonline comments or posts about their views or experiences of healthcare ?

Or perhaps you haveposted or written about your own health or healthcare experiences online?

Are you 18 or over?

We would like to find out more about how and why patients and members of the public have used the internet to express their views about healthcare, or read other people’s comments. We are interested in people’s use of a range of internet platforms e.g. Twitter, YouTube, blogs, health forums, patient feedback websites and NHS complaints forums

If you have used the internet for this purpose, we would like to invite you to take part in an interview with one of our researchers. An interview will typically last between 45 minutes and one hour. A researcher could interview you at your home, or elsewhere if you prefer. Interviews may also take place by telephone or online if preferred.

If you are interested and would like to find out more about what is involved please contact:Susan KirkpatrickEmail: susan.kirkpatrick@phc.ox.ac.ukPhone 07787 294170

You can find NHS England's open consultations on www.engage.england.nhs.ukCurrent consultations include ones around the following services:- Homecare in Hospital Callout- Proposed redesign of learning disability and autism spectrum disorder services- Children and Mental Health Services- Accessible information standard

Over the last year, NHS England has been working to strengthen it’s commitment to patient and public participation. This has involved publishing new guidance on involving patients and the public in it’s work and in primary care commissioning (GP, dental, optical and pharmacy services). Feedback to them on the guidance by clicking on the links above to complete the online surveys, by 31 December 2016.

We would like to invite you to our Wessex Voices Event – ‘Positively Engaging in NHS Change’ on 5th December at the Novotel, Southampton.Health services in the UK are going through a significant period of change as they gear up to meeting the needs of our 21st Century population. The Wessex Voices Project would like to invite you to an event to:– hear more about what is driving these changes in the NHS– what health services could look like in 5-10 years time, and …– discuss the best way for the NHS to involve the public in these significant changes.This event is notdesigned to talk about the future of specific local health services (e.g. your hospital or GPs) but will focus on how you think people should be involved in these changes.This is also an opportunity for you to meet each other, Local Healthwatch and some NHS colleagues; for us to say thank you for getting involved in, and to hear a bit more about Wessex Voices.The event will start at 1000 but you can arrive from 0930. Please let us know if you have any specific requirements. Reasonable travel expenses (for volunteers) will be met. Please sign up to the event via this link.The event is for people who use health services in Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.If you have any questions please contact Sue Newell on sue.newell@helpandcare.org.uk or 07595 424198.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Mental Health AllianceIndependent Chairperson1 day per month - Day rate £350 per day

Expressions of Interest are invited for the position of Independent Chairperson to facilitate and have oversight of the work and delivery of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Mental Health Alliance which is a key work stream of the regional Sustainability Transformation Programme. The Mental Health Alliance has a wide membership including providers and commissioners of mental health services, Local Authorities, Third Sector organisations and patients and carers.Working in partnership, the Alliance has developed a strategy that aims to develop joined up Mental Health services across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight footprint through a common workforce, to improve access and patient experience of the people of Hampshire and Isle of Wight with mental health needs.

The roleAn independent chairperson to provide leadership and objective oversight to the delivery of the work stream objectives. The chairperson will ensure that the work stream:

maintains its pace and focus on the delivery of work stream objectives

works in partnership for the most effective service design for the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

is aligned to the standards and aspirations set out in Five Year Forward View for Mental Health

Seeking an individual who has established knowledge and experience of Mental Health services. This may be through their own lived experience or through their professional role (or both), who can operate effectively in a strategic leadership position. The post holder must have skills and experience in managing complex and competing priorities at organisational level, be a good negotiator and able to facilitate difficult and challenging conversations. The post holder must be an advocate for Mental Health service users and able to influence as independent Chair. They may be called upon to represent the work stream to a variety of stakeholder groups including (but not limited to)

Patient Groups

Workforce representatives and Trade Unions

Department of Health

Local and National Government

This position is expected to commence as soon as possible for an initial period of 12 months.

Please contact Hilary Kelly, Programme Director, on hilary.kelly1@nhs.net should you wish to discuss the role or the submission of an Expression of Interest.

Expressions of Interest should be forwarded to Liz Skeats, liz.skeats@southernhealth.nhs.uk by midday 11th November 2016 and include a current CV and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and your skills, attributes and experience as relevant to the role.

Interviews may be held with the applicants to further discuss their expression of interest. An interview date has been identified for the 1st December 2016 from 12:30 onwards.

Join us for our two free half-training sessions.The training takes place over two days, 24th and 29th November, 10:00-13:00 each day.The first session focuses on how the NHS works.The second session focuses on ways in which patients and the public can get involved in making sure the voices of patients and the public are part of NHS decision-making about the future of services - and how to feel confident in doing this.By the end of this training you should be able to:

Understand how health and care is arranged locally and how different parts of the system are connected in different ways

Know how money is allocated, and who chooses and buys services for patients

Know how changes to the NHS affect patients and the public

Know about different ways to get involved

Develop your ability to influence others and to have your points of view heard

Date/time: 10:00-13:00 on the 24th and 29th November 2016Address: Community Learning & Resource Centre 41-44 King Street Wimborne BH21 1EB

You can bring a useful external view as to what patients may need or expect in terms of the availability, accessibility and range of pharmaceutical services in different areas.

The Pharmaceutical Services Regulations Committee plays an important role in considering applications and choosing pharmacy services to meet the needs of the local population.As a volunteer lay committee member for NHS England Wessex, with a vote, you will contribute to making these decisions. You can bring a useful external view as to what patients may need or expect in terms of the availability, accessibility and range of pharmaceutical services in different areas. You can help the committee look at how the interests of the pharmacy applicants and objectors are balanced. Your role will help ensure that decisions are made in the interests of patients and the health service.

What does it involve?The committee usually (but not always) meets monthly for up to two hours. You will also need to read the papers in advance, which could take up to two hours. There are also some decisions that are made by email between meetings where appropriate. You may be asked to occasionally attend some training.

What support will you be offered?This voluntary role requires skills, expertise, time commitment, public accountability and involvement in decision-making so is deemed to be a Patient & Public Voice Expert Adviser role for which you will be paid an involvement payment. The involvement payments (which include preparation time) can be:

£150 per full day, or

£75 per half day

It is anticipated that half a day will cover the requirements of most meetings, however if there is a long agenda and associated papers, payment for up to a full day will be agreed.

Out-of-pocket expenses (in particular travel expenses) will also be reimbursed.We will offer you training to undertake the role. There is a training day in London on the 18th October that would provide an early opportunity to learn from the experience of the appeals unit. The Pharmacy Contracts Manager will be attending and would be there to support you if you can attend.

The Pharmacy Contracts Manager will be your contact point and they and the Wessex Voices Project Manager can also help support you settle into and support you in this role.There is already one lay member who sits on the Committee and we are looking for a second so that we can ensure that all meetings are covered. There may be opportunities to share experience and knowledge with the existing lay member.

What happens next?If you are interested in this role please contact Julia Booth, Pharmacy Contracts Manager for more information and a role description and person specification. If you are interested in getting involved you will be invited for an informal discussion so you can further explore role, ask any questions and to talk about how you meet the person specification.This discussion will inform the selection for the role.​More informationPlease contact Julia to express an interest by phone 07584 277315 or email julia.booth@nhs.net

West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group are planning an engagement event to gain input from local service users and carers, clinicians and other organisations to shape their Cancer strategy and action plan for the coming year. They are looking for service users or carers to take part in the event, consider the information presented in slides and a printed strategy and contribute to discussions about the strategy using your experience of services.The event will take place on Tuesday 4 October 2016 from 0915-1200 noon at Desborough Hall, Wells Place Centre, Wells Place, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 5LJ.For more information click here or contact: Jane Deary on 07879 445039 or jane.deary@westhampshireccg.nhs.uk.

Researchers from the South West NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (PenCLAHRC) at Plymouth University are inviting members of Clinical Commissioning Groups to share their views on how patient-reported measures are currently being nationally implemented by taking part in a survey, which is available hereThe team hopes to get a sense of what guidance would be most beneficial in terms of how to implement such measures and use findings to drive forward improvements in person-centred care. This information will help inform their Commissioners Guide on Person-Centred Metrics, which is work commissioned by NHS England.For further information contact: Hannah Wheat, Research Assistant, hannah.wheat@plymouth.ac.uk 07944 080003 or go to the website here

NHS England are seeking to recruit a Patient and Public Voice (PPV) partner to sit on the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG). CPAG is a non-executive and independently-chaired advisory committee, established to make recommendations to NHS England about which new treatments, services and technologies should be prioritised for inclusion in prescribed specialised services routine commissioning and could be funded by potential discretionary spend within the annual Specialised Commissioning budget allocation.PPV reps will play an advisory role and constructively challenge to help CPAG to make decisions that reflect the interests of the population. The PPV partner would be expected to operate at a Non-Executive Director skill level.The closing date for applications is 3 August 2016 and interviews will be held on 11 August.NHS England are looking for people with previous experience of giving a public, patient or carer perspective on health services and a strong commitment to maintaining a patient focus in the commissioning of health services. The expected time commitment is around 30 days per year, and the initial contract is for one year.Travel expenses and other appropriate out-of-pocket expenses are payable, in addition to an honorarium of £75 per half day or £150 per full day for those people not representing or supported by an organisation.Visit their website for further information and the application form.

BackgroundThe Nuffield Trust is an independent health charity. They aim to improve the quality of health care in the UK by providing evidence-based research and policy analysis and informing and generating debate.The projectThis is an exciting 30 month study that will seek to investigate models of medical generalism in smaller hospitals in England.We know that people with multiple health problems, particularly those over age 65, are the heaviest users of hospital services. There are growing concerns that the care they receive from hospital doctors is not optimal for their needs. One reason for this is the trend for doctors to become more specialised, often focusing on the treatment of particular diseases. A specialist doctor is perhaps less well equipped to deal with this type of patient. As a consequence, there has been a call for a growth in the number of doctors who have a broader range of skills – medical generalists.However, we do not have a clear idea of the number of patients who need this type of generalist care and we do not know how many medical generalist doctors are needed. Ways in which care is managed by generalist and specialist doctors in hospitals also vary, and we do not know whether some ways of working are better than others.The research team aims to answer these questions by looking at the different models of medical care used in smaller hospitals.The roleThe Nuffield Trust is looking for motivated individuals with a patient and public perspective to work alongside our research team.In this interesting role you will be accompanying the study’s research team in visits to a sample of hospitals across England and actively contributing to the research.For further details please refer to the full role description. To apply for this role please submit a short CV (or a summary of your experience) and completed application formvia email to recruitment@nuffieldtrust.org.uk or by post to: Recruitment, Nuffield Trust, 59 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7LP. When sending your application, please make sure to include the job reference (nihr/16) in the subject.Applications close on Friday 29th July 2016 at 12.00.